Dog Community

Farewell, Sweet Tom Cat

Posted : 3/5/2008 8:01:22 PM

I'm just so sad. We moved in November and our new house has three large commercial green houses on it. The people that were living their previously had a mom cat have a litter of kittens before we moved in. They were there when we moved in and she had been feeding them. I continued to let them live in my green house and take care of them.

This morning when I went to feed them. I heard a "meow", a "help" kind of meow. I realized one of the kittens had been seriously hurt.

The vet said a car must of hit him, his pelvis was crushed and it would take "heroic" measures to save him. I spoke to the vet in detail about if there was any chance. But, she felt that even if he lived thru the surgery, he would have serious issues later on, like possible paralysis or incontinence. They were having trouble stabilizing him and getting his temp up to where it should be too.

Before we hung up we agreed she would euthanize him(I had always called him Tommy though I wasn't positive until today he was a male). He was very sweet despite being born outside. He always stayed with the mom even though he was about six months old now.

I got another phone call a short time later saying he died on his own before they could put him down. He wasn't in pain, he was on heavy pain medication.

I did all I could for him considering the situation. But, I didn't realize how attached to him I was. I can't believe he's gone now.

Please say a prayer that he's made it to Rainbow Bridge. I'm hoping he can maybe find some other i-dog kitties to hang with. He didn't have much in this life and I'm hoping the next will make up for it.

oxoxoxo

Lori

pofi_pasquale

Posted : 3/5/2008 8:07:00 PM

I'm so sorry, Lori. You were so good to care for them and to make sure he got help when it was needed.

Be at peace, little Tommy cat and free of pain.

mollymoo

Posted : 3/5/2008 8:16:43 PM

Lori I am so sorry. Rest assured that little Tommy has many friends at the rainbow bridge. My Tom (pic in my sig) left us in Jan. Although he was a fixed male I`m sure that he would love to be little Tommys daddy at the bridge. Sending comforting prayers and thoughts to you.

Run free little Tommy

gradyupmybutt

Posted : 3/6/2008 8:01:36 AM

So sad. Thank you, Lori for taking such good care of him in his short little life. I'm sure that Rico is playing with him @ the Bridge. He wasn't much older than Tommy when he crossed.

Run free, Tommy!

nymaureen

Posted : 3/7/2008 4:02:00 PM

I am so sorry for the loss of your sweet Tommy cat. You took care of him and did all that could be done. Thanks for helping some cats in need.

westiegirl3

Posted : 3/7/2008 4:04:48 PM

I am sorry about the loss of Tom Cat.

willowchow

Posted : 3/7/2008 9:29:37 PM

Thank you guys for posting here. I feel like he's getting a little send off, ya know. My greenhouse is all he knew and being outside he didn't know any people, so this is it.

Thanks so much.

I know he's loving being with all your cats now. He always liked being with his family. I can tell they are looking for him.

tacran

Posted : 3/7/2008 10:47:37 PM

Lori, I just saw your post today when I read the news about Bubblegum. I was at work, and I barely made it through my post on Dyan's thread without someone catching me in tears at my desk, so I didn't dare post anything else until I got home tonight. So, a bit belated, but I'm really sorry to hear about your special little kitty. I know you must be so sad -- it doesn't take much for us to get attached to animals that cross our path, even if they're wild or feral, or if we never even got to touch them. Just seeing them each day becomes part of our life's routine, and thus the animal is connected to us. This is one of the million times when I wish we could share a language with animals, even for 5 minutes. Just so you could go to the greenhouse and tell the other cats what happened and why he's gone. It would break my heart to see them looking for him.

As upsetting as it must've been for you to find him, I'm glad he didn't die on the road somewhere . . . . at least he had pain medication during his final moments. Our dear friends moved across country in September and their cat got out of the house a couple weeks after they arrived, and because it was unfamiliar territory, she was spooked and kept running away every time they tried to catch her. Sadly, she was hit by a car about a week later (they found her after she'd passed). Our friends are most sad that her final days/hours were in fear and in pain. Thankfully, little Tom heard the voices and felt the touch of kind and loving people, and he knew your generosity. I'll keep him in my thoughts and prayers, along with Bubblegum, tonight and I'll ask Tonka to watch for him -- he loved cats and was very inclined to watch over tinier animals in our neighborhood that seemed to need extra protection.

Run free sweet kitty -- you'll have lots of pretty places to play at the Bridge and friends to keep you company.

spiritdogs

Posted : 3/7/2008 11:19:58 PM

]Please say a prayer that he's made it to Rainbow Bridge. I'm hoping he can maybe find some other i-dog kitties to hang with. He didn't have much in this life and I'm hoping the next will make up for it.

Lori, not to worry - Neptune, Pirate, Jerome, Jammer & Cochise will be there to welcome him in and be his friends. I just know he will have all you hope for him there...

willowchow

Posted : 3/9/2008 12:56:14 AM

Thank you guys so, so much. It's been a difficult few days and continuing to take care of the rest of them is so tough right now--his presence is really missed. And, also, his little face is haunting me quite a bit. I didn't get into it here but he was in rough shape and the fact that he made it back to me is unbelieveable. I've never had an animal so obviously beg me for help like that, not even Willow.

But, anyway, I'm also trying to keep things in perspective and not let myself get too overwhelmed with this.

I'm very happy he's going to have so many friends there to show him the ropes. He was very much a follower.

THANKS!

DPU

Posted : 3/9/2008 5:40:31 PM

I'm sorry Lori and yes it does not take much to get attached to kitties. I am sure he made it alrright to the Rainbow Bridge. I am so touched by your story and the fact that despite being hit by a car, the kitty made it home to be with his momma(s). I think just to say goodbye and to say thanks for the life. I know you will help to take care of the momma and the other kitties.

Misty's Mom

Posted : 3/11/2008 1:02:52 PM

Bless you Lori for taking them all in and caring for them... It is horrible what happened to little Tommy but you touched him obviously because he made it back to you and you did all you could do - more then some people would have - so thank you for that from little Tommy...

I am sure the others are very thankful for you as well...

Rest and play easy now Little Tommy!